Metallic fencepost



H. C. JONES METALLIC FENCE'POST Filed Jan 16 Patented July 1, 1924.

' UNITED STATES TENT} OFFICE.

HAROLD c. JONES, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, AssIeNon T0 INLAND STEEL oomrANY, or

cmcaoo, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION or DELAWARE.

METALLIC Application filed January To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, HAROLD C. JbNEs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and Stateof Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Metallic F enceposts, of which the following is a specification. My invention relates to fence posts, more especially metallic posts of the type which may be completely produced by the rolling mill process, except for cutting into lengths. One of the objects of the invention is to produce a post of this character free from perforations or notches, which tend to weaken the post. In my post the means for preventing slipping of the fence wires or ground anchor are in the form of studs or projections and these are of such shape that they may be produced by the rolls. Another object is to provide a rib or projection projecting from the face of the post for holding the wires spaced slightly from the front surface of the post. Another object is to provide a simple and efficient fas-- tening means for securing the ground anchor to the post. In .the present case I have accomplished this by providing-apertures in the front of the ground anchor for accommodating one or more of the integral lugs on the post, and I have also apertured the ground anchor in such manner as to permit the body of a clip to extend across the front face of the ground anchor and thence pass to the back and engage the lateral edges of the bar to hold the parts assembled. By preference a fiat clip is employed, which contributes to the stability of assembly and also affords a. considerable bearing surface with which to engage the rear side of the lateral flanges.

I obtain my objects by the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a general assembly view in perspective showing a typical post embodying the invention and showing the ground anchor, clips and fence wire.

Figure 2 is an enlarged detail looking from the front of the post and showing the construction and means of attachment of the ground anchor to the post.

Figure 3 is a plan section on the line 3-3, Figure 2,

FENCE-POST.

16, 1922. Serial No. 529,404.

Figure 4 is a side elevation ofthe post showing the ground anchor and clip in vertical section.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the In the design illustrated, the body of the post is T-shaped in cross section, having a front or head 1 and a. center leg or flange 2 extending from the back of it. Spaced at suitable distances along the front of the bar are studs or projections 4 which are integral with the post and by preference extend at intervals throughout its entire length. In the form shown the space between studs is considerably greater than the length of the studs, that is, the extent of the base of the studs lengthwise of the post. According to the design illustrated, a rib' 3 is formed along the front of the post, in line with the studs 4, which strengthens the bar somewhat and also has the advantageof holding the fence wires spaced slightly from the front of the post. The sides of the lugs are substantially flat for reasons which will be hereinafter explained.

' The ground anchor is here shown in the form of a plate 6 having the outline of a regular trapezium, although the form may be "aried if'desired. The plate has a pair of slots 7 arranged vertically and of such size and so spaced as to accommodate a pair of studs 4. These slots have parallel sides which come adjacent to the parallel sides of the studs, and said slots are somewhat elongated in order to compensate for any variations in the spacings of the studs. It will be understood by those familiar with rolling mill practice that the spacing of studs on a rolled shape cannot be accurately controlled, and will vary in accordance with the variations in the temperature of the metal at the time of rolling. I avoid any 7 disadvantage from this fact by elongating the slots and making the sides of the studs parallel, so that the fit laterally will possess the necessary accuracy and yet the apertures will accommodate the studs even though the latter may vary somewhat from the spacing intended.

The ground anchor or plate 6 also has slots or apertures 8 spaced apart horizontally far enough to come adjacent to the edges of the front of the post. These last mentioned slots are for the purpose of accommodating slips 10 by which the anchor may be secured to the post. Said clips are bendable and have ends 11 adapted to pass throu h the slots 8 and to be bent around the edges of the post, as best illustrated in Figure 3.

The fence wires 12 may be held in place in any appropriate manner, for example, by

" the roundclips 14 shown in perspective in Figure 1 and in plan in Figure 6, or by the flat-clips 16 shown in-Figure 7. The round clips are preferable, ordinarily, at least on account 0 economy, and usually consist'of rods in the neighborhood of inch diameter. The diameter of the rod, however, may of course be varied to suit conditions. These fence wire clips are bendable and may be attached in the field by the aid of a hammer or similar tool.

In practice the ground anchors are usually secured in place at the factory. They are fastened with the shortest dimension lowermost, the purpose being to facilitate the driving of the post and anchor into the ground by means of a hammer or otherwise. When the posts have been erected the "fence wires are laid against the front of them at the desired elevations, after which the wires are secured in place either by the round rod clips shown in Figures 1 and 6 or the angular clips shown in Figure 7. In either event, vertical shifting of the wire is limited to the space between two projections and these projections may be as.

close together as the designer may de ermine upon. On account of the presence of the longitudinal rib 3, the wires will be held slightly spaced from the body of the post. This prevents the accumulation of moisture and consequent rusting. Ordinarily the clips for the fence .wires are furnished with one end completely bentfor engagement with the edge of the post, as shown at the left end of Figure 6, the other end being simply at right angles to the bod of the clip, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 6. As the clip is made of bendable metal, all that is necessary to finally secure it in place is to strike the'end of it with a hammer and bring it to the position shown in full lines at the right of Figure 6. If the flat form of clip shown in Figure 7 is employed, the ends 17 are manipulated in the same way. It is incense desirable to arrange the clips later 16 alternately, as illustrated in Figure 1, that is, one tilting upward to the right and the other tilting downward to the ri ht, as this has a tendency to anchor the fencing in both directions, vertically, and prevent it from slipping either up or down from the exact position to which it is adjusted.

From the foregoing it will be evident that the post is free from apertures of any kind and that both the ground anchorand the fence wires are held most securely and by very simple means. Also that the fencing will, in practice, be spaced slightly from the front of the post and rusting thereby prevented. Also that the anchor plates fit.

vof my construction the ground anchor is firmly held against rotation in its own plane while the 0st is being driven into the ground and the construction is otherwise durable and rigid.

My post also has an advantage from the manufacturers standpoint in that the bars may be produced in continuous lengths and then cut off to form stock or special sizes. This results from the fact that the projections extend at intervals along the entire post. Of course all of them will not be used in practice, and theoretically certain of the projections may be omitted, but it is advantageous, at least from the manufacturers standpoint, to provide a continuous row from one end of the post to the other. The projections which are not required in any given instance are no disadvantage; on the other hand there is much advantage in being able to roll the bars in indefinite or continuous lengths and then cutoff such lengths as may be required for the individual posts- Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A rolled metal bar for fence post purposes, said bar having itsfront face substantially flat, studs formed on lhe face of the bar in a row extending lengthwise of the bar, said studs being spaced apart at distances greater than the extent of the studs end of the post, the spaces between studs being greater than the extent of the studs lengthwise of the post.

3. A rolled metal bar for fence post purposes, said bar having a front face substantially flat, a low rib formed on the front face of said bar and extending lengthwise thereof, and a row of spaced studs formed integral with the bar and projecting out-' ward from said rib.

4. A rolled metal fence post having a front face, a stud integrally formed on the post and projecting outward from said front face, a ground anchor in the form of a plate having an aperture for accommodating said stud, and means for holding said plate on the post and closely adjacent to the front face thereof.

at regular intervals, and a groun 5. A rolled metal fence post having a front face, a plurality of spaced studs integrally formed on the post and projecting outward from said front face, a ground anchor in the form of a plate having a plurality of apertures for accommodating said studs, and means for holding said plate on the post closely adjacent to the front face thereof. V I

6. A fence post consisting of a rolled T bar having a row of integral studs formed on the front face, said studs bein spaced anchor mounted on the front of the post, said ground anchor having a plurality of apertures for accommodating said studs to prevent it from either rotating or shifting, the row of studs extending approximately from end to end of the post whereby the ground anchor may be placed in various positions and the studs above ground may serve to limit the vertical movement of the fence wires.

7. A fence post consisting of a rolled T bar having a low continuous rib formed longitudinally on its front face, a row of integral studs projecting at intervals from said rib, and a ground anchor in the form of a plate mounted on the front of the post and having apertures for accommodating said studs, the-row of studs being continuous whereby posts-of any desired length may be made by simply cutting the bar into the lengths desired, and the studs above ground serving to confine vertical movement of the fence wires within certain limits.

8. A metal fence post comprising .a T bar having a longitudinal row of studs rojecting from the face, an anchor plate aving an aperture for accommodating a stud, said anchor plate having an additional aper ture, and a separate fastening element adapted to pass through the last mentioned aperture and engaging the post and the plate for holding the two assembled.

9. A rolled metallic fence post consisting of a T bar having acontinuous rib project said plate and clinched over the side edges of the post.

11. A T shaped fence post havingstuds arranged along its front surface, a ground anchor in the form of a plate having apertures adapted to accommodate a plurality of said studs and having a second set of apertures spaced crosswise of the plate approximately equal to the width of the front of the post, and a clip whose body lies in front of the plate and whose ends pass through the last mentioned apertures and around the adjacent edges of the post.

12. A rolled metal fence post comprising a T bar having a row of integral studs projecting from its .front surface, a low lying rib extending between said studs, an anchor plate having a plurality of apertures for accommodating said studs to thereby prevent the plate from shifting bodily or rotate in its own plate relatively to the bar, and means engaging the plate and secured to flanges pf the bar for holding the plate adjacent to the bar.

13. A rolled metallic fence post consisting of a T bar having a-single low continuous rib projecting from the center of the front face, studs projecting forward from said rib at intervals greater than the length of the studs, a ground anchor on the front of the post having an aperture for receiving one of the studs, and means arranged crosswise of the post and adapted to engage the lateral edges thereof for holding the ground anchor to the post.

14. A rolled metallic fence post having integral studs on the front, said studs being elongatedandhaving their sides paral' lel to each other and to the sides of the post, and being spaced a greater distance apart than the length of the studs.

15. A rolled metallic fence post having integral studs on the front, said studs being elongated and having their sides parallel to each other and to the sides of the post, and the post having a low rib on the front extending from stud to stud for'holding the fence wires spaced slightly from the front of-the post.

16. A fence post having integral studs, a ground anchor havin a plurality of slots adapted to accommo. ate said studs, and means for holding the anchor in contact with the post to thereby enable the projectionsto prevent the anchor shifting relatively to the post, the sides of the studs being parallel to the length of the post, and the sides of the slots fitting fairly closely to the sides of the studs, and the slots being elongated to compensate for variations in the spacing of the studs.

17 A rolled metallic fence post having a front surface which is flat for the majorportion of the width of the post, a continuous longitudinal rib projecting from the front of the post for holding the fence wires spaced slightly away from the front of the post, said rib having studs spaced at inter-- vals substantially greater than the diameter of the Wire and substantially greater. than the length of a stud for limiting any shifting of the fence wires up or down along the post, and means for holding the wires in contact with said rib. I

18. A- rolled metallic fence post having a front surface which is flat for the major portion of the width of the post, alongitudinal rib projecting from the front of the post for holding the-fence wires spaced slightly away from it, said rib extending the post,near the lower end.

from end to end of the post and having studs rising from it at intervals substantially greater than the length of a stud, means for holding the wires in contact with the rib, and a ground anchor mounted on 19. A rolled metallic fence post having a front surface which is flat for the major the rib, a ground anchor apertured to accommodate a stud-to enable the anchor to contact the rib, and means for holding the ground anchor in contact with the rib and preventing it from rocking upon said rib.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name. i g

, HAROLD C. JONES. Witnesses: 1

STELLA M. JoHNsoN, ROBERT LISTON. 

